Thread: Rethinking my tool of choice.

So I mentioned to a coworker about me using a shavette and learning wetshaving techniques etc. He expressed some interest and even mentioned wanting one of those old time razors (meaning a double edge safety razor) but had no idea what they where called or how to go about finding one. I educated him on the name and he promptly hitup amazon ordering a welshi 9306 to give it a try. I gave him a blade from my sampler pack of each brand that I'm using on the shavette. That, along with a few pointers like massaging in the cream, stretch the skin, finding the right blade angle etc... It was nice a nice feeling to pass along some things I have learned in the short time. After day one he was hooked. He now wants to use a long handle and while he had that being shipped he let me use the DE which to this point I had not tried. Man that was awesome! Such an easy shave, no doubt some of my learned experiences with the shavette carrying over. It was super quick, a very close shave with absolutely no irritation. And it was a cinch to hit up the hollows on my neck. As wrong as it was I even went out of my way to try and do bad with it using all the wrong angles and pressure which should have resulted in a cut or at the least irritation but it didn't. I had been working with the shavette to learn a straight without the worries of blade stropping, sharpness etc but the shavette has always felt dainty to me and brings out that bad habit of pressure for me. I've certainly gotten better since day one and now it takes me only 20 mins including prep to do a 3 pass shave as compared to my original hour but compared to the DE, under 5. I know that's a bit unfair given the learning curve with the straight but just wow! Still the nostalgia about using a full on straight appeals to me but I can certainly see some inpatients and laziness coming into effect after having tasted the DE especially when it comes to needing a quick shave. The whole experience has gotten me so conflicted now, I really enjoyed the DE. At the very least I have to order myself a DE which would allow me to do a quick pass in the morning before work as opposed to my current evening ritual shaving which doesn't always work out so well schedule wise.

Interesting post. As you get to know more members of the forum you will see that a number of them, myself included, maintain an arsenal of SE's, DE's, shavettes and straight razors. For some of us the DE is the go to for that quick, last minute shave or to use it for clean ups. Others it's the SE. There are sub sections on the forum for each type of razor used. I'll use an old Gillette when nostalgia strikes because that's what my dad used. I use a Rolls Razor on occasion for the fun of it, but I keep going back to a straight razor for the quality of shave, the dexterity involved and all the side work needed to maintain and enjoy said shave. Keep it up.

I jumped right into straight shaving all at once and eventually picked up a Rolls and a DE to have around in case i couldn't use a SR for some reason... like when i first started to learn to hone a razor and had only one SR to work with. They are also much nicer for travel that an SR most times since you don't have to pack a strop.

RazorCut

It is always easier to go from something difficult to one of lesser difficulty. Used DEs and twin blade plastic disposables all my life and thought I knew how to handle a DE. Took up using a straight daily, got that mostly sorted. Then tried a Muhle R41 with a Feather blade and wondered what all the fuss was about it being a face mangler. Had I not gotten the hang of using a straight the Muhle just may have been a bad deal.

Using a straight or shavette teaches you more about proper angle and pressure than you will ever learn from a more forgiving DE. Glad you liked the DE experience but don't let it make you a sloppy shaver when you go back and use the shavette again.

Bob

Wife: You need to get ready.
Me: Why?
Wife: We're going out, don't you remember me telling you that?
Me: No. .. when?
Wife: Last week. You have 10min to shower and shave.

My straight razor shaves are me time. In a situation as above, I have the DE so I can keep the wife happy.

I tried the straight razors first and did OK, but always had problem areas on my neck and I need to get them professionally honed to eliminate that variable for me. I tried a DE (EJ 89 Long Knurled handle) and was hooked! After a month and a half or so, I am getting really nice shaves with the DE as I learn about angles, pressure and which way the facial hair grows on my face. Just ordered a TTO and an open comb Parker to try out. I want to go to the SR, but I gotta shave each morning before work, and the DE is just much faster than the SR! I have some time off coming up, so I will use the SR's then during that week when I don't have to worry about going to work every day and can spend plenty of time shaving! The Gillette 7 O'Clock Super Sharp Yellows and KAI's have worked the best for me so far. GSB, Feather and Derby Extra all felt very harsh on my skin.

I hear you. When you wake up at 5am, you don't always have the patience to shave at all, never mind with a straight. After using my DE almost every morning, before my shower (I'm weird, what can I say), it had been a while since I had used one of my straights. It's been nice though, far less irritation, feels better in the shower afterwards, and the shave "lasts" longer.

Honestly, I usually go through cycles due to boredom. I'll probably use my straights for a while, then get bored and switch to using a DE, then back again.

I worried about my DE's getting neglected after entering into the realm of the straight...and I was right. However, once I felt comfortable shaving with the straight, I allowed my DE's to creep back into the rotation again. I simply have too many wonderful vintage Gillette's to let them sit there unloved for too long!

Thanks for all the feedback, somehow makes me not feel like I'm cheating so much or something by wanting to use the DE lol.

Originally Posted by RazorCut

Thanks for all the feedback, somehow makes me not feel like I'm cheating so much or something by wanting to use the DE lol.

Remember - this isn't an either/or question! Use what you like, what works for you, and what is appropriate to the circumstances. Or just whatever the heck strikes your fancy on the day.

90+% of the time, I reach for a straight. But every once in a while I'll grab a DE for a change or if I'm in a real rush (although the straight/DE time difference has diminished greatly for me over the years), or just like Razorfield, a Rolls just to shake things up a bit. So don't worry - you won't be kicked out of the wet shavers union for adding a bit of variety.